Butler Ballet Presents The Nutcracker

Butler University’s Dance Department opens its annual presentation of The Nutcracker this weekend from Thursday, December 3 to Sunday, December 6. A holiday tradition for many Hoosiers The Nutcracker is a perfect Christmas Eve story filled with the dreams and fantasies of a young girl.

Butler Ballet is one of the best dance programs in the United States. Each year their presentation of The Nutcracker rivals the greatest companies around the world. This year is Butler Ballet’s 27th consecutive annual production and it will be no exception from the success of past years. From the twirling snowflakes to the waltzing flowers, every child’s imagination is brought to life on stage. Year after year, Tchaikovsky’s famous score provides the background for this delightful story. The dancers in Butler Ballet’s The Nutcracker are part of a rich history and tradition of dance in Indiana.

This year at Butler University Butler Ballet is joined by the Butler Ballet Orchestra and the Indianapolis Children’s Choir under the direction of Richard Auldon Clark. With a newly choreographed party scene and Bud Kerwin returning to the role of Drosselmeyer for the first time since 1996, there are both new surprise and old traditions in store for audience members of Butler Ballet’s winter performance.

Kerwin started teaching at Butler University in 1971. He retired in 1997 as a professor of dance. Since his career as a dancer began, he has been in countless productions of The Nutcracker and has played Drosselmeyer more than sixteen times. This year is likely to be his last. “It’s a challenging role, believe me,” says Kerwin. “He’s sort of like the master of ceremonies at the party, and there are just a lot of entrances and exits and getting people on and off. It’s not a matter of remembering steps as much as it is remembering cues. And he creates a lot of magical effects, which have to be worked out carefully of course.”

Tickets for The Nutcracker at Clowes Memorial Hall range between $21.50 and $28. 50 for adults, between $17.oo and $23.oo for Indianapolis kids with a student ID and seniors. Group rates are available as well. For more information on how to purchase tickets and on specific show times, visit the Clowes Memorial Hall website. For more information about Butler Ballet, visit their website.